Top-joint for vehicles



(NoModeL) J. A. NISONGER. Top Joint for Vehicles.

No. 232,748. Patented Sept. 28,1880.

M M y w w w S E S S E N W W ATTORNEY N-PETEHS. PHOTO-LKTHDGRAPHEFL WASHINGTON. D G,

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFTen.

JAMES A. NISONGER, OF GOSHEN, INDIANA.

TOP-JOINT FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 232,748, dated September 28, 1880. Application filed March 10, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. NISONGER, of Goshen, in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, have invented a new and valuable Improvementin Adjustable Sliding Top Joints or Braces for Vehicles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same. reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures ofrcferenee marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a side view of my improved brace applied to a buggy with the top extended. Fig. 2 is a similar "iew of the same with the top folded, and Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of the brace.

This invention has relation to improvements in folding tops for vehicles generally, but more especially designed for buggies and other similar conveyances.

The nature of the invention consists in a certain novel arrangement of folding braces, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, the letter A designates a vehicle-seat having the usual seatrail a, having near its front edge the angular metallic arms I), to the horizontal branches of which the two center bows, B, of the top are pivoted. These bows are ironed off at c, and provided with eyes in the ends of the irons for the reception of the spindle of arms I).

I The front and rear bows, B B, have similar irons, c, and are pivoted to the adjacent bows B, the whole canopy-frame thus constructed being secured to the seat by means of a nut, 0, applied upon the threaded end of arms I).

The irons c c are so constructed that when the bows are swung back to fold the top they do not interfere, but lie snugly the one upon the other. The bows are connected together and to the back of the seat by means of the flexible bands 0, that hold the canopy-frame from forward displacement.

Projecting out horizontally from the rear part of the sides of the seat or seat-rails is a horizontal arm, (Z, and from the inner face of the rear bow, B, is a similar arm, cl, pivoted to which arms is the rear vertical brace, D. This brace is composed of two sections, a e, the former being a smooth lacquered rod, and

the latter a two-part construction. The parts it" of section 0 are connected together by a knuckle or knee joint, the section 6 being tubular and the section 1' solid. Thejoint is after the manner of a stop'hinge, and the bearings of the sections a against each other are oppositely beveled, so that when the said brace is straightened out upon raising the top the sections 6 0 will not be in line with each other, and will cause the brace to be locked. The section 0 of the brace extends through and has free endwise movement in the tubular part2 of the section 6, and its end abuts against the adjacent end of part 2" of the said section when the brace is straightened out; but when the top is folded the parts z' z" flex the one upon the other, and the rod-section 6 extends through the tubular sleeve 2', allowing the bows to fold snugly the one upon the other. The folded position of the brace is shown in Fig. 4.

The two rear bowsof the canopy are connected together by the folding braces E, which being straightened out extend the canopy properly, but, when flexed in lowering and folding the same, allow the said bows to lie snugly the one upon the other. The braces D E are upon the inside of the bows, as are also the braces D, which extend the remaining bows of the top, and consequently the flexible tilt lies smoothly and snugly upon the hoops or bows.

The braces D do not differ in construction from the braces D, being composed of two sections, 0 e, the latter being in two parts, hinged together by a stop-joint, one part being tubular and the other solid. The section 0 extends through and moves endwise in part 6', and when the brace is extended abuts against the end of the solid section i.

It will be seen that this brace affords astron g reliable support to the top, it being incapable of flexing casually, and thereby letting down the top inopportunely; but when purposely bent allows it to fold snugly and readily.

In order to prevent the lacquer from being rubbed oftof rod 0 the part 2' is provided With interior rubber rings, 0, arranged at each end.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The folding brace for folding vehicle-tops consisting of the' sections e e, the latter consisting of the tubular part i and the solid part i, knuckle-jointed together, and the section 0, extending through the tubular part 2', and endwise movable through the same, substantially as specified.

2. A folding brace for vehicle-tops consisting of the rod-section e and the two-part flexible section 6, having a solid and a tubular part, and the section 6, socketed in the tubular part of the tubular section, and endwise movable through the same, substantially as specified.

3. A folding brace for vehicle-tops consisting of the knuckle-jointed section 6 and the section 6, endwise movable through the adjacent branch of the section 0, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have i hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. NISONGER. Witnesses: I

HENRY V. (JURTrs,

UTLEY It. CURTIS. 

